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A. H. CLARK.

Car Coupling.

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Letters Patent No. 95,652, dated October 12, 1869.

IMPROVED CAR-COUPLING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, A. H. CLARK, of Otisville, Geneseecounty, Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a safe and durable coupling for railroad-cars, one which shall couple automatically, andbesafe and sure in its operation.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described.

Inthe accompanying plate of drawings Figures 1 and 2 represent longitudinal vertical sections of the two parts of a coupling, constructed according to my invention, fig. 1 showing the position of the drop-block ,wlien holding the link, and fig. 2 as when approaching the link for coupling, the paras being constructed alike in all particulars.

Similar letters of reference indicate. corresponding parts.

A is the draw-head which is chambered out for the drop-link and pin, and as seen in the drawing;

B is. the drop-block;

C is the link; and

D is the coupling-pin.

The block B is supported loosely in the chamber E of the draw-head, on the inclines seen in dotted lines in the drawing, the block having shoulders on each of its sides which rest on the inclines, so that when not held up and supported by the link, as seen in fig. 1, it is carried down and forward, and takes the position seen in fig. 2, thu or any other contrivance except-v the' solid block B for holding the link in its proper horizontal position when uncoupled, (as seen in fig. 1,) and for holding the pin and releasing it for coupling. When the link strikes the inclined front surface of the block, as in coupling, the block is raised, and at the same time carried back in the chamber, 0n the inclines before mentioned, and as seen in fig. 1.

Being forced back, it allows. the pin. D to drop through the link, from the position seen in fig. 2, when the coupling is complete.

By setting the coupling-pin in the draw-head, with itsend resting on the block, as seen in fig. 2,,and with the coupling-link held in a horizontal position by the block, as seen in fig. 1, the cars are always ready for coupling without endangering life or limb by going between them.

The advantages of this coupling will be readily understood and appreciated by allwho are acquainted with the subject.

Having thus described myinvention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- 'ters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the draw-head of a railroad coupling, the block B, operating on inclines'i'n the chamber E, substantially as shown and described, and

for the purposes set forth.

' 2. The arrangement of the block B, and chamber E, in combination with a railroad-coupling, substantially as entirely avoiding the use of springs- 

